Open-Source DC solar system development, i want your opinions please!

ArjenCNX
Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭
Dear Forum members, I'm Arjen, and i am with a small group of engineers that call them selves Build for life. Currently we are working on a small DC solar system that has some unique attributes, let me explain:
Currently smaller home systems seem hard to find, the choice is usually to get separate batteries, charge controllers and inverters, and the users are expected to either do DIY job, or get an installer to get everything running. These products are usually not really made to work together, as in they cannot communicate with each other and the status of the system as a whole is thus not always easy to assess. Next to this there seems to be no open-source solutions available in the market for a rather important thing for many people, when the units run out of warranty/support, you often just have to buy a new one.
I can see many have now adopted to using those battery/inverter combo devices such as ecoflow and bluetti, but this doesnt really solve the problem for permanent installs, is still not open-source and assumes you run everything from 120/230VAC.
Thus my conclusion has been the as follows (and i would love some comments on this)
Thus we have come up with the following modules, they are connected to a rail, and have connectors on the side so they can be plugged together to share power and data connections. (no more cables and DIY work)
this system is designed for tiny homes, off-grid buggout locations, cabins, vans, boats, and anyone off-grid that wants a dependable and expandable system that is open-source, thus serviceable and where community can get involved with new module designs, new functions, new firmware and so on.
Things i have no solution for as of yet:
Fridges, (yes it can run off the inverter, but i would prefer an independent solution)
Water pumping, especially deep well pumping
Air-conditioning
things you will tell me about.
Thanks for chiming in, i hope i learn something here, your comments will change the development of this system
Currently smaller home systems seem hard to find, the choice is usually to get separate batteries, charge controllers and inverters, and the users are expected to either do DIY job, or get an installer to get everything running. These products are usually not really made to work together, as in they cannot communicate with each other and the status of the system as a whole is thus not always easy to assess. Next to this there seems to be no open-source solutions available in the market for a rather important thing for many people, when the units run out of warranty/support, you often just have to buy a new one.
I can see many have now adopted to using those battery/inverter combo devices such as ecoflow and bluetti, but this doesnt really solve the problem for permanent installs, is still not open-source and assumes you run everything from 120/230VAC.
Thus my conclusion has been the as follows (and i would love some comments on this)
- There are no serious open-source solutions
- most solutions out there require the user to scavenge for parts that are DIY'd together, requiring knowledge many will not have
- Most solutions will rely 100% on AC 120~230V appliances for everything, and this is not a very efficient way of using energy as in many cases things will go from DC>AC>DC>load. since inverters are about 85% efficient this wastes up to 35% power
- There does not seem to be any brand that offers a family of products that solves all the basic needs of every household
Thus we have come up with the following modules, they are connected to a rail, and have connectors on the side so they can be plugged together to share power and data connections. (no more cables and DIY work)
- Battery Module 480Wh up to 4 in one system
- Controller module, with touchscreen and advanced home automation interface, WiFi etc. + all the power outputs of the power output module
- MPPT charger 600W 36~80V
- Inverter 500W
- Power output module with USB-C 100W / 2X USB-A 15W + 5 outputs for LED's and fans
- Computer module (full PC function, using Intel N100 SBC
- 4G modem module with external antenna / Amplifier HIFI module.
- Lighting: top class quality LED lighting, CRI>97, flicker free 2700~5000K adjustable 3 sizes, 500/1000/1500 lumens
- IR remote light power switches
- ceiling fans in 2 sizes
this system is designed for tiny homes, off-grid buggout locations, cabins, vans, boats, and anyone off-grid that wants a dependable and expandable system that is open-source, thus serviceable and where community can get involved with new module designs, new functions, new firmware and so on.
Things i have no solution for as of yet:
Fridges, (yes it can run off the inverter, but i would prefer an independent solution)
Water pumping, especially deep well pumping
Air-conditioning
things you will tell me about.
Thanks for chiming in, i hope i learn something here, your comments will change the development of this system
Comments
-
Interesting project. So up to 4 battery modules planned. Can additional charge controllers and inverters be added as well?
How about the temperature limitations of lithium chemistries? Some folk only want lead batteries because of limitations of lithium so will this system allow for configuration to use lead batteries including their charging requirements?
Communication: Unattended operation and remote access including monitoring AND remote adjustment of parameters? Security? Hosted/cloud based or XYZ? Subscription?
I think an important part would be generator support for those times when the sun isn't shining. Not just for higher, planned loads but also to recharge the battery bank. Also for automatic generator start, warm-up, run-time, cool down and shut down.Off Grid. Two systems: 1) 2925w panels, OB VFXR3648, FM80, FNDC, Victron BMV-712, Mate3s, 240 xformer, four SimpliPHI 3.8; 2) 780w, Morningstar 30a, Grundfos switch, controller and AC/DC pump, 8 T105. Honda EU7000is w/AGS. Champion 3100. HF 4550, Miller Bobcat. -
"Currently smaller home systems seem hard to find, the choice is usually to get separate batteries, charge controllers and inverters, and the users are expected to either do DIY job, or get an installer to get everything running."
I think you are wrong here about hard to find! There are many places for this. There are even all in one solutions that are fairly simple now. Even Costco sells them. The store here has it all ! Go on their website!
https://www.solar-electric.com/
"we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
htps://offgridsolar1.com/
E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net -
JRhill, thanks for your comment, Generally charging is done with a generator that supplies AC 120 or 230V, so what that would take is a module that contains a AC>DC converter with current limiting that can ideally trigger the generator at a set battery level, or charge the back-up from the grid. OK, ill check that out and see how we would go about that, but it sounds like a general purpose switch-mode power supply with constant current mode, wide input, and perhaps about 500W of charge capacity ( batteries take up to 10A of charge current at up to 26V per pack) then it can also be the grid-side charge interface, that would be useful for those that just want a fancy UPS system as well. ill add this to the list of modules to be developed, it just makes sense. Thanks sir!
-
Hi Dave, thanks for your comment, I know systems exists that are made for off-grid, and im not doubting high-quality systems can be had as well, for myself this would be adequate as im an engineer, installation would not pose any difficulty for me. However, there seems to be no open-source solutions out there and personally i would prefer a system that is so nice that it need not be hidden in some cabinet, i was thinking of: open-source, modular, repairable, efficient, kind of like B&O meets open-source solar. I'm also not aiming to build something very low cost, it would be significantly cheaper then a full inverter output set with kilo-watts worth of storage and output power but since the aim is to "build for life" quality will take the center stage in this design. Since it will be open-source others are free to take blocks of the design and create a lower cost solution, in fact, i'd be glad if someone did do that as well.
ease of installation though is something i care about, i want a system that my wife can install without my presence and i think this is possible to do. ill post some images today of what i have so far, and i hope people here would be so kind as to share their thoughts.
Thanks again
Arjen & Build for life team -
EG4 is making some very nice equipment these days large capacity wall/floor mount batteries, high output inverters, all integrated
2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric, 460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.
Categories
- All Categories
- 224 Forum & Website
- 132 Solar Forum News and Announcements
- 1.3K Solar News, Reviews, & Product Announcements
- 196 Solar Information links & sources, event announcements
- 894 Solar Product Reviews & Opinions
- 255 Solar Skeptics, Hype, & Scams Corner
- 22.4K Solar Electric Power, Wind Power & Balance of System
- 3.5K General Solar Power Topics
- 6.7K Solar Beginners Corner
- 1K PV Installers Forum - NEC, Wiring, Installation
- 2.1K Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum
- 5.5K Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems
- 428 Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems
- 1.1K Grid Tie and Grid Interactive Systems
- 652 Solar Water Pumping
- 815 Wind Power Generation
- 624 Energy Use & Conservation
- 617 Discussion Forums/Café
- 310 In the Weeds--Member's Choice
- 75 Construction
- 124 New Battery Technologies
- 108 Old Battery Tech Discussions
- 3.8K Solar News - Automatic Feed
- 3.8K Solar Energy News RSS Feed